UNSUNG HERO SHAWN CLARK DOMINATED THE AMA LITES
10 February 2006 - AMA Pro Racing

The Indiana native was the class of the Lites class, winning often and setting a perfect example on how Lites is the “stepping stone” to bigger and better things.

Team Unbound/VRM.com/Kawasaki’s Shawn Clark is on the cusp of greatness in the AMA Arenacross Lites division . Clark absolutely dominated the first half of the year in the newly named AMA Arenacross Lites class, and should be recognized as the ‘unofficial’ overall champion of the class.

With the re-structure this year of the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series’ championship points, the primary focus on the overall title was put on the AMA Arenacross class, whereas in the past it was a combined then 250/125 class points chase.

Admittedly a bit ‘questionable’ at the beginning for racers and race officials alike, the AMA Arenacross Lites class racers took to the starting gate at Albany (N.Y.) to open the 2005-’06 Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series season and, like a powerful opening band, would whip the crowd into a frenzy time after time for the AMA Arenacross class main event.

And the paramount rider in all of these opening acts through much of the year was Clark.

“I have to admit I was a little hesitant at first to accept the way the Lites class points were going to be structured,” said Clark. “But now after a season of racing and seeing the big picture as to how the AMA Arenacross Lites class has become the stepping stone for the AMA Arenacross class and, eventually, supercross, I was able to see where the promoters were trying to go with this and now feel it was a really good idea.”

Clark so thoroughly dominated first two-thirds of the season that announcer Tim Cotter said “He’s (Clark) the obvious choice as the overall lites class champion.” And Clark, who was always a threat to podium in the AMA Arenacross class, admittedly put in his dues with the other lites racers with one goal in mind – being prepared for the Amp’d Mobile AMA Supercross Series Eastern Regional Lites opener in St. Louis (Feb. 18).

“Racing the AMA Arenacross Lites class prepares you much better than training outdoors for supercross,” said Clark. “The whoops are bigger in arenacross, the jumps and rhythm sections are far more technical and the settings on your bike are much closer to the way you set up for supercross. The way I look at it is that I’ve had ten weeks of racing for when we line up for St. Louis.”

Clark made sure to mention the other AMA Arenacross Lites class racers that he battled all year. Guys like Suzuki’s Jim Neese and Jim Chester, Honda-mounted Roy Horton and Cody Gilmore (Kawasaki) all were on the podium a lot and made for some terribly exciting racing. In fact, it was Clark’s battle with Neese at Dallas that Clark cited as the best race he’s had all year.

“Man, me and Neese were neck-and-neck the entire evening in Dallas,” said Clark. “It was at that point, when I came out on top in Dallas, that I felt I went from being a second or third-place guy to being ‘That’ guy. So this year’s been fun that way. And hopefully we can finish the season on a high note this weekend in Denver.”

In addition to his title sponsor Unbound Energy Drink, Clark thanked sponsors VRM.com, Pro Circuit, No Fear, Suspension Plus, MX Training and Wiseco.

Clark and the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series returns to action in this weekend when the world’s top arena-based motocross racers converge on the Denver Coliseum for the final round of the ten-round series. Great seats are still available for this ‘must-see’ Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series final in Denver. For more information please visit www.arenacross.com or contact the Denver Coliseum box office at (303) 640-2637.

Tickets are available online at www.arenacross.com, www.ticketmaster.com, www.tickets.com. For more information on the Toyota AMA National Arenacross Series log on to www.arenacross.com.

www.amaproracing.com

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